FAST OVER 800m. BUT... McKechnie has reservations over national title chances

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32542, 27 February 1971, Page 14

FAST OVER 800m. BUT... McKechnie has reservations over national title chances

(By

R. O. DEW)

'THE 23-year-old Univer-sity-Shirley athlete, Grant McKechnie, finished only third in the recent Canterbury 800 metres championship, but he is certain of being treated with great respect by his rivals when the New Zealand championship over this distance is decided at Inglewood today. McKechnie’s Canterbury record of Imin. 50.85ec., set at Auckland’s Mount Smart Siadium last month, is the second fastest time recorded for the distance in the country this season. If he can strike this sort of form in the final at Inglewood he will stand a great chance of winning his first national senior title. Only the defending champion, B. A. Hunter (Otago), has run faster. He recorded Imin. 50.3 sec. in winning the Otago title recently. The tall, dark Canterbury athlete has no illusions about the magnitude of the task which lies before him. “There are going to be three hard races—a heat, a semifinal and the final,” he said. “I can’t hope for too much. The stronger chaps will come through.” Of slim build, he considers he did not do sufficient stamina work during the winter to be at his best for the final. "I know I have not got the strength of some of the others at present. Next season I hope to concentrate on this aspect,” McKechnie said. He considers this sea-

son’s nationals more of an opportunity to gain experience in top class company than anything else. But he still intends to put everything he has got into the event. In his early days, McKechnie was one of the finest 440yds runners of his age. He won the New Zealand junior title in 1966 and was a sprinter of no mean ability. He seemed set for national senior honours over this distance or its metric equivalent, but after consultation with his coach (Mr T. I. Crossen) he decided to set his sights at the top. “We knew he could reach the top nationally in the 400 metres but realised that if he was to reach international standing he would have to move up to the 800 metres,” Mr Crossen said. “With his speed he has great potential in this event, and should get below Imin. 50sec. before too long.” Unfortunately, the first two years in which McKechnie concentrated on the 800 metres were frustrating ones. He ran a few good times but fallen arches —he has flat feet—virtually put him out of serious competition. It is only this season that he has come

back into hard competition. Most of last season was

spent building up. Now McKechnie wears special supports in his running shoes and apart from an “odd twinge” is suffering no after effects of the injury.

This season he hhd to be content with third in the provincial 800 metres final behind his stronger rivals, A. Gilmour and B. Robinson. But he later scored a surprise win in the 400 metres championship —an event he would probably have won before this had hb not elected -to try for the 800 metres. His time of 49sec. was very creditable for an 800 metres runner. “I ran it the way Tom (Mr Crossen) and I planned it. I hoped to take it easy at the start and try and sprint everybody home,” he said after- . wards. His best time for the distance is 48.55ec., set three years ago. This is well up to present national standards, but McKechnie will not be contesting the 400 metres at Inglewood. “All my training has been directed towards the 800 metres. I know it is twice round, but I am afraid that the 800 metres is my event now.”